ROBERT LEBZELTERTHE PROM: A lasting memory for most graduating seniors.
By BECKY SIMPSON
As the school year comes to an end, many seniors look forward to a bright,
challenging, and exciting future when they graduate and prepare for the
world beyond.
At the same time, they will never forget their memories of high school.
Mike Ard will take all of the crazy things that happened during his senior
year at Madison High School with him as he goes to Kent State University,
where he plans to major in education.
It's a good thing Kent State's colors are blue and gold - Mike is used to
painting himself blue for all of the football games as the "self-acclaimed
mascot."
Jennifer Robakewicz, from Grand Valley High School, will also miss the fun
times she had at the football games as a part of the flag line. However,
she plans to come back from the her busy nursing classes at the University
of Akron on the weekends in order to "watch her boys play." Other
than the football games, Jennifer says she will also miss all of the people
she has come in contact with during her education.
Geneva High School senior Catie Olsen agrees with Jennifer. She says, "I
am really going to miss the people at GHS. I have made a lot of good friends."
Catie plans to attend John Carroll University where she is sure to make
many more friends.
Also planning to attend John Carroll University is Doug Roskovicks from
Harbor High School. He is very excited about his future in pre-engineering.
Perhaps someday he will do the engineering work for a new high school which
he hopes that Ashtabula will build.
Charley Graham of Jefferson High School is also excited about his future.
He will miss all of his friends and teachers during his years at Green Mountain
College in Vermont Charley has not yet decided on a major.
Also undecided is Katie Shannon of Grand Valley High School. Katie will
be attending Mount Union College next school year. She recalls her first
day of ninth grade with a laugh, "All of the freshman were scared to
go downstairs because that's where all the seniors were. We would run past
them as fast as we could when we had to catch our buses."
Ken Gasch of Conneaut High School remembers his first day of ninth grade
as a scary experience as well. "I was completely terrified. But after
a while I realized all of the stories I had heard weren't true." Ken
plans to study international communications at Case Western Reserve University
this fall. He feels that he will miss the security he has in Conneaut when
he makes the move to Cleveland.
Ken plans to continue his activities at the Ashtabula Arts Center during
breaks from school.
Joe Donatone from Edgewood High School also plans to stay involved with
the arts center. He has been accepted into the honors program at Ohio State
University where he will double major in Spanish and international business.
Joe says that he will especially miss Edgewood's chicken nuggets and hanging
out in the National Honor Society office.
Samantha Gale of Geneva High School, another student who plans to major
in business, will be moving from the northeastern part of the state to the
southwestern part when she attends Miami University. Sam says that she is
glad to have attended a high school where the students were genuinely nice
to each other.
"I feel that the people at GHS really cared about each other."
she said. Sam will always remember her fellow seniors and all of her high
school experiences, but she is ready to move on to the next stage of her
life.
Sarah Walbridge has the same sentiments. "I am sad to be leaving Conneaut
High School, but I am excited about the future. I am not really nervous
about the year ahead." Sarah is guaranteed a lot of excitement at DePaul
University, located in downtown Chicago, where she plans to major in costume
design.
Vicki Dansereau of Edgewood High School shares the feeling of Sam and Sarah.
She is looking forward to majoring in music education at Alderson Broaddus
College in West Virginia. She feels that the transition into college life
will not be too hard because Alderson Broaddus has only 750 students, which
is almost the same as EHS.
Rebecca Molinoff is also confident that she will make the transition from
Geneva High School to Dartmouth College easily. Rebecca plans to major in
English and philosophy. She feels there will not be much adjusting to do,
except for the new school work.
Conneaut High School's Ryan Burdick is also excited about college life.
He will be attending Baldwin Wallace College where he will major in biology.
Although he did feel sad after his last tennis game was over, he anticipates
invigorating times ahead.
John Von Tesmar also felt unhappy to finish his tennis season at Geneva
High School. However, the pride of finishing on the No. 1 team in the NEC
helped to chase those feelings away. He is anxious to play some more, perhaps
at University of Colorado where he will be majoring in Business.
On the other hand, Scott Raikes from Jefferson High School does not plan
to continue sports at college. He will miss all of them - except basketball
- but is glad to be relieved of the stress. Scott plans to go to Kent State
University and major in business management.
Perhaps Scott will see Nikki Morgan of Madison High School as she also will
be attending KSU. Recalling her feelings after her last track meet, Nikki
said.
"I felt sad, as I did after the end of every season, but this season
was such a great one. I just remember thinking back on all of the great
memories I will have forever. I have really enjoyed all my years at MHS,
especially being with all kinds of great people."
Fellow MHSer Jeremy Verdi had the same feelings about his fellow students.
"We are a very close-nit school. We really pulled together in our times
of crisis. I will never forget the dances and how much everyone cares for
each other." Jeremy plans to major in communications at Mercyhurst
College.
Perhaps Charles Dickens put it best when he said, "It was the best
of times, it was the worst of times." These seniors and their classmates
will always have their unforgettable experiences of high school, but they
are ready to move on to new and exciting days.
Simpson would be graduating from Geneva High School this year, except
she's not old enough. She hopes to be old enough next year.
Maybe he's just a sociable guy. . .
Adam Kobrinski, an eighth grader at Columbus Junior High School in Ashtabula,
says his favorite subject is social studies.
"I just like learning about the United States. . . .and the whole world,"
said Adam, 14.
The lanky, talkative teen-ager says he's especially interested in France.
French landmarks are "neat," he said.
Their names also are hard to pronounce - which is why Adam wants to bone
up on his French when he enrolls at Harbor High School.
When not daydreaming about baguettes, Adam enjoys the sporting life. He
plays baseball, basketball, soccer, golf and tennis. Last year, he ran track
for his school's junior varsity team.
The last book he read was "Summer of the Monkeys," in which an
enterprising teen tries to capture a carload of monkeys that have escaped
from the circus.
Adam said one of the critters in the story (for reasons not apparent to
us) is worth more than the others - about $100.
"Eventually, (the character in the book) finds him and gets what he
wants," Adam said.
And what would Adam do if he found a monkey worth $100?
"I have many things I'd buy," he said. "I'd put (the money)
toward a new golf set, first of all, and I'd also buy some new clothes."
At least he wouldn't monkey around with it.
The Northeast Ohio Teen-to-Teen Helpline Inc. is starting its summer volunteer
training class June 15 at Bethany Lutheran Church on Michigan Avenue, Ashtabula,
(not to be confused with Michigan Avenue in Chicago.)
Sessions are June 15, 16, 18, 23 and 25.
Not only is this volunteer work (aka no pay) but the folks ask for a donation
for training materials. Can't get much better than that.
Anyway, if you would more information, call 1-800-272-TEEN.
Teen and adult volunteers are trained to listen and respond to teen's problems
nonjudgmentally.
Hmmm, sort of like the O.J. Simpson jury.